PM Modi dedicates Kochi Metro to the nation

Agencies
June 17, 2017

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 17: Kerala shifted tracks to a new phase in urban transport infrastructure on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating the first phase of Kochi Metro to the nation.

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Before the formal opening of the 13.26-km first phase, between Palarivattom and Aluva, the Prime Minister took a ride on one of the trains. Addressing a gathering at the inaugural event’s venue in Kaloor, Modi highlighted features of Kerala’s first metro rail network which made it unique.

Kochi Metro is the first metro project commissioned with Communication-Based Train Controlling Signalling System. The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has provided jobs for about 1,000 women and 23 trans-genders. “The project is also an example of environment-friendly development. It plans to meet nearly 25% of the entire energy requirements from renewable sources, particularly solar energy. The long-term plan is to become a zero-carbon emitting urban transit system,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi said 50 cities in the country were ready to implement metro rail projects and foreign investment had been invited to the urban public transport sector. He said the National Transit Oriented Development Policy, issued in April, aimed to create “compact walkable communities” and bring public transport closer to transit.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan acknowledged contributions of migrant labourers in the construction of the Metro and requested KMRL to facilitate a Metro ride for them. Lauding the project coordinators for finishing work on the Metro on schedule, the Chief Minister said Kochi Metro sent out a message to potential investors that development projects could be completed in a time-bound manner in Kerala.

He sought assistance from the Centre to further the state-Centre association to pursue the development agenda while acknowledging the Centre’s “positive” approach to development. In a veiled reference to earlier uncertainties over the Prime Minister’s presence at the event, Vijayan said people who created the controversy were left “disappointed”. Kochi Metro will begin commercial operations on Monday.

Insets

On track

** Construction completed in four years
** Total project cost of Rs 5,181.79 crore
** Rs 2032.91 crore released by GoI
** Total 25.612 km, fully elevated, from Aluva to Petta
** 22 stations; 11 in phase 1
** 13.26 km in phase 1, in 20 minutes
** A train every 10 minutes, fares start at Rs 10
** First-in-India open-loop smart card for buses, taxi-cabs, autos
** 25% of energy requirements from renewable sources
** Covered vertical garden on every sixth pillar
** Water Metro as feeder service planned with 38 jetties

Cheers to Metro man

At the inaugural event attended by senior politicians and bureaucrats, the loudest cheers from the 3,000-odd crowd were reserved for ‘Metro Man’ and Chief Adviser for Kochi Metro, E Sreedharan. The applause, every time his name was mentioned on the dais, was significant after an earlier controversy over his exclusion from the dais. The veteran engineer, however, was characteristically self-effacing in his response. “(the cheers were) Probably because I’m a local,” he told reporters.

Fracas over a "free ride"

The presence of BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan during the Prime Minister’s inaugural Metro journey has come in for some criticism. Rajasekharan was not in the original list of passengers scheduled to travel with Modi, from Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.

The PM was accompanied by Governor P Sathasivam, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Secretary Nalini Netto, Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba, E Sreedharan and KMRL Managing Director Elias George. Rajasekharan’s presence was criticised on social media, also because elected representatives were not invited for the ride.

Comments

Shankar
 - 
Sunday, 18 Jun 2017

BJP is trying really hard to make a mark in Kerala. They are using all the PR tricks known to them.

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News Network
April 27,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 27: A 50-year old coronavirus patient allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of a hospital building here on Monday, police said.

The patient jumped from the trauma ward of the Victoria Hospital, a senior police official said.

According to hospital sources, the man, who was admitted with acute respiratory problem on Friday, was also suffering from kidney problems.

This morning, he jumped off the fifth floor of the building, they said.

Further investigations are on, police said.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 19,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 19: Mohammad Haneef Guddemane, a cattle trader, who was thrashed by the miscreants of Bajrang Dal while legally transporting cattle last weekend, today appeared before media and demanded appropriate action against the assailants.

The attack took place on June 14 at Urwa in the city when he was transporting four buffalos along with all necessary documents. The attack was also captured on a CCTV camp. 

The victim, who addressed a press conference today, said that it was not the first time he is transporting cattle as into animal and husbandry for years. 

“I had bought 10 she-buffaloes on June 13 from Ranennur and obtained certificate from the local government veterinary doctor after which the animals were brought to my village,” said Haneef, who is a resident of Jokatte on the outskirts of the city. 

He said that he was transporting four out of the ten she buffaloes he had bought to the slaughterhouse at Mangaluru on June 14 when a gang of around 15 members which intercepted his vehicles near Urwa police station dragged him out of the vehicle, rained abusive words at him, made blasphemous remarks about his religion, and hit him with a helmet besides kicking him. 

He said that three of the assailants were armed with sabre, iron rod and wooden sticks. 

"They also tied me to the vehicle and assaulted. They also attacked me with their arms but I escaped. Their plan was to kill me. Fortunately, the police reached the spot and the assailants escaped. However, they thoroughly damaged my vehicle and robbed Rs 7,800 I had with me. I got treated at Highland Hospital in the city," he stated.

Expressing shock over the soft corner approach of the police towards the assailants, he said that only six of around 15 attackers were booked by the police. 

“All the accused were let off by the police after registering petty cases. Ironically, the police had not recorded my statement. On the day of attack, they had asked me to sign on a paper. It contained the complaint written by themselves. Hence, on June 17 I visited the Urwa police station and recorded my statement,” he said.

He said that even though he has all the documents pertaining to the cattle that he had purchased, the police had registered false cattle theft charge against him. 

Former city mayor K Ashraf, Hyder, bother of the victim and Shamsuddin, Jokatte gram panchayat vice president were present at the press meet.

Also Read: Mangaluru: Bajrang Dal men thrash cattle trader after waylaying buffalo-laden vehicle

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 19,2020

Bengaluru, May 19: Karnataka on Tuesday recorded the highest single-day rise in the COVID-19 cases in the state as a whooping 149 people tested positive for the virus. With the spike in new cases, the overall tally has risen to 1,395.

This is for the first time the state recorded 100 plus cases in a single day. So far, 40 people have also succumbed to the virus including three deaths today. 

The new deaths consist of a 61-year-old male patient, a resident of Ballari; a 65-year-old male patient, a resident of Vijayapura; and a 54-year-old male patient from Bengaluru.

Among the new cases, a maximum of 71 are reported from Mandya, followed by 22 in Davanagere, 10 in Shivamogga, 13 in Kalaburgi, six in Bengaluru Urban, four each in Udupi and Uttara Kannada, five in Chikkamagaluru, three in Hassan and one each in Yadagiri, Chitradurga, Vijayapura, Gadag.

Most of the new cases are of the people who traveled to Mumbai in Maharashtra, Solapur, Ahmedabad, and Kerala.

The remaining are those who came in contact with the people who had tested positive earlier.

At present, 811 people are actively taking treatment, while 543 have been discharged after recovery.

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